Film transport case



July 24, 1951 c. P. COLLINS ET Al. 2,561,342

FILM TRANSPORT CASE Filed May l2, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 46 `l///l//l/l/"l//ll 47 49 f; 2 CHARLES PoLL/Ns,

6' ,zu/4M 62 Mame/s,

.JAMES L. 72H/M50,

July 24, 1951 c. P. coLLxNs ET AL 2,561,342

FILM TRANSPORT CASE Filed May 12, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 THE/l? ArToRNEY.

Patented July 24, 951

yUNITED STATES FILM TRANSPORT CASE Charles P. Collins, Falls Church, Va., George J. Gaccy, Washington, D. C., Everette D. Marston, Arlington County, and William S. Morris, Alexandria, Va., and James L. Trumbo, Washington, D. C.

3 Claims.

amended April 30, 1928; 370 O'. G. 757) The invention described in the following specification and claims may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

'I'his invention is in containers and especially is a container for insuring the secure transport of exposed photographic film.

The exact situation for which the invention is intended involves the transport of exposed photographic films bearing confidential information. It may be desirable in such cases and is 'of utmost importance where military information is involved to preclude the possibility of such films falling into unauthorized hands in the event of an accident or attack which might incapacitat the courier.

The principal object of our invention is to provide a carrying case for a photographic film with shock-responsive means for effectively destroying the contents of the case.

Another object of the invention is to provide a transport case for exposed but undeveloped lm with shock-sensitive light-operated means for rendering film unintelligible.

A further object is to provide a novel adjustable shock-sensitive switch.

Additional objects will be apparent from a reading of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan View of the exterior of the transport case of our invention;

Figure 2 is an elevation of the case with the front thereof broken away and the lm holder removed therefrom;

Figure 3 is a plan view, partly broken away, of the film-holding insert for the box of Figure 1;

Figure 3a is an elevation of the insert or rack;

Figure 4 is a schematic wiring diagram of the circuits utilized in the transport case; and

Figure 5 illustrates, in section, the novel switch which forms an important part of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figures 1 and 2, III represents the exterior of the transport case. The case is made of lightproof material, preferably metal. It is equipped with a handle II, a hasp I2, and a staple I3. In use, the box top is adapted to be secured by a padlock (not shown).

In the lower part of the box and approximately centrally thereof are arranged two sockets I5 and I6 into which are fitted photoiiash bulbs I1 and I8 connected in a manner which will be later described to a power source, as battery 20.

Arranged to t within box I0 is a rack member (Figures 3 and 3a) comprising a flat plate 20', eight depending rods 2 I, 2 I 22, 22', 23, 23', 24, and 24', and bracing members 25, 26, 21, and 28, all of the members 20 through 28 being formed of some transparent plastic material. The depending rods extend to or into a web 29 provided with a central opening 29 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. Each of the rods 2I through 24 is provided with a plurality of washer-like members, as 30, which serve as spacers for a purpose which will hereinafter be described. The rack-like member of Figures 3 and 3a will, when fitted into case I0 and seated upon supporting member 3|, surround ash lamps I1 and I8, the lamps, of course, extending upwardly through opening 29'. A handle 32 is provided for lifting the film-carrying rack.

Mounted on the exterior of case I0 and adjacent the top thereof is a snap switch lill of any convenient type, by means of which it is possible to close a circuit through battery 20 and iiash bulbs I1 and I8. This switch, of course, makes it possible for a courier intentionally to destroy the film he is carrying. The circuit for switch 48 is shown in Figure 4.

As noted above, however, the principal purpose of the invention is to provide a transport case for film wherein the contents of the case can be destroyed without the volition of the custodian thereof and particularly when the box is subjected to a shock as would accompany a train, automobile, or airplane accident. There is, therefore, provided in the circuit of flash bulbs I1 and I8 a second switch 44. This switch is best illustrated in Figure 5. There it can be seen to include a body member 45 formed of some insulating material and preferably of Lucite or other transparent plastic material. Secured in one end of the body member is a tube 46 of brass or other conducting material, this tube serving as one contact for the switch. A metal cylindrical member 41 is secured in the opposite end of body member 45. Secured to the inner extremity of member 41 and centrally thereof is a coil spring 48 of such length as to extend well into tube 46 along the axis thereof. Plug member 41 has a lengthwise threaded opening formed therein, and through this opening is screwed a cooperating spindle 49, a little longer, perhaps, than spring 48. Spindle 49, of course, can be extended or retracted relative to the spring by turning the same in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. Wingnut 50 locks the spindle in place. Plug 41 serves as the second terminal member for 3 the switch. Suitable conductors (not shown) must be provided for plug 41 and cylinder 46. soldered connections may be used. In practice, it may be more convenient to provide readily separable connecting means.

Operation of the switch is very simple and requires but elementary description. Normally, spring 4B extends within cylinder 46 and close to but out of contact with the walls thereof. A sharp blow to the switch body 45, however, `or to the case in which it is mounted, will cause a momentary contact to be made between the end of the spring and the wall of the tube and thus will close a circuit through flash gulbs l1 and I8. The operation is improved by securing to the end of spring 48 a small bead of solder 5|, or some similar weight.

The sensitivity of the switch can be varied by extending or retracting screw' 49. Withdrawing the screw, for example, will increase the length of the unsupported portion of the spring so that a smaller jar will cause the contact to be made. Adjustments are possible within very narrow limits. It has been found that in a film transport case as above described it is possible to so adjust the switch that a fall from a height of four feet will close the switch, whereas a drop of two feet will fail to do so. Similarly, thc switch can be adjusted to operate responsive to a fall of twenty feet and not of eighteen feet.

In use, exposed but undeveloped film is wound upon the rack of Figures 3 and 3a and around the rods 2| through 24', spacers 39 being positioned between adjacent rows of film. The spacers serve two purposes: rst, they prevent scratching of the Iilm, and secondly and more important, they insure complete destruction of the ilm by exposing the same in single layers only to the light of the flash bulbs. Since the spacers are freely movable upon their rods, the rack can easily accommodate different widths of lms.

The foregoing description is in specific terms, and many modifications will suggest themselves so that for an understanding of the true scope 4 of the invention reference should be had to the appended claims.

We claim:

1. The combination of a light-proof box, a light source centrally disposed within said box, means adapted to t within said box and adjacent said light source for supporting a photographic film and exposing the same throughout substantially its entire extent to light from said source, and a shock-sensitive switch for energizing said light source.

2. The invention of claim 1, further characterized by a manually operable switch and lightproof means for operating the same from the exterior of said box.

3. 'I'he combination of a light-proof box, a light source disposed within said box, transparent means for supporting a photographic illm in surrounding relation to said light source thereby to expose the same throughout substantially its entire extent to light from said source, and a shock-sensitive switch for energizing said light source.

CHARLES P. COLLINS.. GEORGE J. GACEY. EVERETTE D, MARSTON. WILLIAM S. MORRIS. JAMES L. TRUMBO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file oi this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,084,592 Chouinard c Jan. 13, 1914y 2,095,925 Deune Oct. 12, 1937 2,170,584 Ayers Aug. 22, .1939 2,420,726 Sabin May 20, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 193,874 Great Britain May 27, 1924 

